Converter for suction cleaners



Oct. 5, 1948. D. c. GERBER CONVERTER FOR SUCTION CLEANERS 3 sheet s 1Filed "by 12 943 I, v M a I I H 1948- o. c GERBER 'convzm'an ion sucuoucnmsas and m 12. 194:

I 3 Shoots-Shoot 2 INVENTOR. .Dale C. Gerber 4 194$ D. c. GERBER2,450,828

CONVERTER FOR SUCTION CLEANERS i'neam 12, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet sINVENTOR. I Dale G. Gerber 33 "1" I BY Patented a. s, 1948 f coNvEn'rEaFort snc'rron CLEANERS Dale G. Gerber, North Canton. Ohio, assignor to Icorporation of Ohio The present invention relates to suction cleane'rsgenerally and more particularly to a new and 8 Claims.

The Hoover Company her it. An agitator 2:

improved dusting tool converter and its connection to the suctioncleaners for converting the cleaner from an on-the-iloor unit to anoil-thefloor unit.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved suctioncleaner, Another object is to provide a new and improved converterelement for ofl-the-floor cleaning. A further object is to provide aconverter element having valve means to enclose the motor shaft. Anotherob-' ject is to provide a converter element having valve means actuatedby the motor shaft to close the valve about the motor shaft to seal thecleaner nozzle f-rom the suction creating means. Further objectsandadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the followingspecification and drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation. partly in section, taken along the. linel'l of Figure 2. showing the suction cleaner in position foroif-the-iioor cleaning; t

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1 show. ing the converterelement in position;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the converter element disconnectedfrom the suction cleaner;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view with parts broken away disclosing anotherembodiment of the inven ion wi h the converter element in position foroiT-the-fioor cleaning;

F gure 6 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 5, and 1 Figure 7 isa perspective view of the converter element disconnected from thesuction cleaner.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figu es 1 to 4 comprises'asuction cleaner having a body It provided with a nozzle i I interiorlyconnecfed through asuction air passageway l2 with an eve l3 of a fanchamber H from which rearward y extends an exhaust pa sageway i5 forconveying dirt-laden air into a dirt filtering bag l3 removably attachedat its lower end to the cleaner body i0 and at its upper end supportedby a handle I! pivotally mounted on the cleaner body. A housing I8encloses an unshown motor positioned on the cleaner body Ill above thefan chamber and its shaft extends downwardly through the chamber M whereit carries a fan It, and attached to the lower end of the motor shaft isa pulley 20 in the suction air passageway i2, the pulley 20 having abelt engaging groove 2| spaced below the bottom wall 22 of he fan cham.

- unless the nozzle H is ra sed off North Canton, Ohio, at

Application May 12, 1943, Serial No. 486,632

2 isrotatably mounted in the nozzle Ii and is driven by a powertransmitting belt 24 connected to the pulley groove 2|. The suction airpassageway l2 extends from the nozzle ii to thefaneye i3 and is formedby a wall 25 depending from the cleaner body l3 and a removable bottomplate 28. An opening 21 is provided in the wal1 25 of the suction airDassageway adjacent the fan eye l3 and is normally closed by a springactuated valve 28 pivotaily mounted along its lower edge on a pin 29supported on a converter receiving casing 30. The converter receivingcasing 30 is of rectangular cross-section and extends from the suctionair passageway wall 25 transversely of the cleaner body to 9. dependingskirt 3| for reception of a dusting tool converter element 32 when thecleanor is converted to ofl-the-fioor cleaning.

The cleaner body is supported on front and rear wheels 33 and 34,respectivelyjthe front wheels having agreater tread area than the rearwheels to maintain the nozzle ii in proper adjustment with the surfacebeing cleaned, The rear wheels 34 are rotatably supported on a bracket35 pivotally attached to the cleaner body In and is provided withforwardly extending arms 38 and 31, which are normally urged by a spring33 to abut the'fan chamber bottom wall 22 for maintaining the c eanernozzle in its proper range oi adiustment for on-the-floor cleaning. Thearm 38 of the wheel supporting bracket 35 has an ex ension 39 whichprojects through an opening 40 in the converter receiving casing 33 toact as a barri r to prevent insertion of the converter element 32 intothe suction air passageway I2 the surfaceinto pos tion for oif-the-floorcleaning. f The converter element 32 which converts the cleaner foroff-the-floor cleaning'comprisesa ho low body 42 having at one end atubular por-' tion 43 to which is removably connected munshown flexibehose provided at its opposite .end with a sultabe unshown cleaning toolfor engage ment with the surface to be cleaned. Adjacent the tubularportion 43 is a rectangular portion 44 formed with a side wall 45, a topwall 43 and a 'bottom wall 41. At the forward end of the converter bodyin the top wall is an opening 43 of substantially the size of the faneye i3, and a slot 48 is formed in the side wall 45 and bottom wall '41for the reception of a part of the belt pulley 20 which extends betweenthe fan chamber bottom wall 22 and the belt 24.

The slot 49 is closed by a valve 50 of substane.

tialiy hook-shapepivotally mounted on a pin 5| 3 supported on adepressed area 82 of the bottom wall 41. The valve 58 is provided withan arcuate section 53 and a slot closing section 84 and between thesetwo sections is a curved marginal edge 88. A spring 88 has one endattached to a pin I! mounted on the converter top wall 48 and theopposite end of the spring is attached to a pin 88 on the valve 58, andthe spring functions normally to maintain the arcuate portion 880! thevalve across the slot 49 so that it abuts a shoulder II on the converterelement 32. while the slot closing portion 84 of the valve is clear 01'the slot and is protected by an abutment 88 provided at the forward end01 the converter element. A depression Si is provided in the converterbottom wall 41 for receiving the barrier 39 to lock the converterelement in proper position in the cleaner body for oiI-the-iloorcleaning.

In normal on-the-fioor cleaning, the cleaner body I8 is moved over thesurface to-be cleaned by the handle l1 and the rotating agitator 23dislodges the dirt from the surface covering. The suction creating fan|9 draws the air and dirt through the nozzle ii and suction airpassageway l2 and discharges the dirt-laden air into the dirt bag l8.

To convert the cleaner for ofl-the-fioor cleaning. pressure is exertedon the rear end of the motor housing l8 to raise the nozzle II from thesurface covering and cause the barrier 39 on the wheel bracket 35 tomove downwardly away from the cleaner body l and out of the converterreceiving casing 30 whereby the converter element 32 may be insertedtherein. When the converter element 32 is in proper position, thepressure is removed from the motor housing I8 and the barrier 39 movesinto the recess 6| in the converter element and holds the latter inposition and also maintains the agitator 23 out of the engagement withthe surface covering.

As the converter element 32 passes through the converter receivingcasing 38, the forward end abuts the valve 28 and pivots it downwardlyinto the suction air passageway i2. Upon further forward movement of theconverter element into the converter receiving casing, the slot 49passes about the motor pulley 20, and the defining edge 55 of thearcuate portion 53 of the valve 50 contacts the motor pulley 20 whichpivots the valve to cause the slot closing portion 54 of the valve topass about the opposite side of the motor pulley 28 and close theforward end of the slot 49 to cut off communication between the nozzleII and the fan chamber i4. When the converter is in proper position, theforward marginal edge 63 of the slot-closing portion 54 of the. valve 58seats beneath the lower defining edge of the depending wall 25, and theforward nd 64 of the converter abuts the vertical surface of thedepending wall 25 to thereby form a seal against the passage of airtherebetween. In this position of the converter element, dirt-laden airis drawn through the unshown dusting tool and flexible hose, theconverter element 32, Ian ey.e l3, into the fan chamber l4 and isdischarged by the fan l9 into the dirt bag I6. I

The foregoing conversion for off-the-floor cleaning can be made, ifdesired, while the belt 24 is rotating the agitator 23 and these partsremain in operation while the converter element 32 is in use. In orderto re-convert for on-the-floor cleaning, pressure is exerted on the rearend of the motor housing |8 to remove the barrier 39 out of thedepression 6| in the converter element 32, to thereby unlock the latterand permit its removal from the converter receiving casing 38. Uponremoving the converter element 32, the motor pulley 28 contacts thedefining edge 38 of the slot-closing valve portion 34 to move the valve88 toits open position, and such movement is assisted by the spring 38which causes the valve to shift to position as shown in Figure 4.

Another embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figures 5 to '7 andcomprises a converter element "which is inserted in the converterreceiving casing 38 of the suction cleaner desribed in the foregoingembodiment. The converter element 18 comprises a hollow body having atone end a tubular portion 1| to which is removably connected un unshownflexible hose provided at its opposite end with a suitable unshowncleaning tool for engagement with the surface to the cleaned. Adjacentthe tubular portion II is a rectangular portion 12 formed with a wall13, a top wall I4 and a bottom wall 15.

At the forward end of the converter body in the 7 top wall 14 is anopening 18 of substantially the size of the fan eye i3 and a slot 11 isformed in the side wall 13 and the bottom wall 18 for the reception ofthat part of the pulley 20 which extends between the fan chamber bottomwall 22 and the belt 24.

The slot 11 in the converter bottom wall 15 is closed by a valve havingtwo cooperating sections 8| movably supported on pins 82 mounted on theconverter bottom wall in a depressed area 83 formed by an arcuateshoulder 84-. Each valve section 8| includes a slot-closing portion 85and a valve-closing portion 88 and these portions cooperate when thevalve sections 8| are in closed position to define an opening 81 whichis adapted to receive the motor pulley 20. The forward defining edges ofthe valve sections 8| are curved as indicated at 88 to providetherebetween a substantially V-shaped section 89 when the valve isclosed for the initial engagement with the motor pulley 20 to move thevalve sections 8| to open position when the converter element 18 isinserted in the converter receiving casing 38, and the portions 88 ofthe valve sections 8| are ofiset so as to overlap each other when thevalve sections are moved to open position. The valve sections 8| aredisposed between the converter bottom wall 18 and a removable plate 98mounted on the converter bottom wall. A depression 9| is provided in theconverter bottom wall 18 for receiving the barrier 39 to lock theconverter element 18 in proper position in the cleaner body foroiI-the-floor cleaning.

The cleaner is placed in position for off-thefioor cleaning in themanner previously described by depressing the rear end of the cleanerbody so that the converter element 18 may be inserted into the converterreceiving casing 38. As the converter element 10 passes through theconverter receiving casing 38, the forward ends 88 of the valve sections8| abut the valve 28 and pivot it downwardly into the suction airpassageway l2. Upon continued insertion of the converter element 10, theforward ends 88 of the valve sections 8| contact the motor pulley 20which forces the valve sections 8| to spread apart to permit theconverter element to be completely inserted to proper position. As thevalve sections 8| are moved to open position, the inner ends 88 of thevalve sections are caused to move into the slot 'I'l in the converterbottom wall and thereafter come in contact with the motor pulley 28 tocause the valve sections 8| to pivot in the opposite direction so thatthe slot-closing portions use: the valve sections 8| close oil! the slotTI and enclose the motor-pulley 20 to out off communication between thenoz'zle-H and the fan chamber I}. In this position of the converterelement, dirt-laden air is drawn through the unshown dusting tool andflexible hose, the

converter element ill, faneye' l3, into the fan fan into the to theiropen position whereby the converter element 10 may be completely removedfrom the converter receiving casing '30.

'I claim:

' 1. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having a nozzle, a fan chamberhaving a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzle and faneye, a fan in said fan chamber, a shaft extending through said fan eyeinto said air passageway, a motor for driving said fan and shaft, meansdefining a port in said air passageway adjacent said fan eye forreceiving a converter element, a converter element insertable throughsaid port into register with said fan eye, means defining a slot on saidconverter element passing transversely of said shaft, and a valvepivoted intermediate its ends on said converter element, said valvehaving one portion engageable with said shaft for moving said valve touncover said slot,

' and another portion engageable with said, shaft for moving said valveto close said slot and seal said nozzle from said fan chamber.

2. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having a, nozzle, a fan chamberhaving a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzle and faneye, a fan in said f-an chamber, a shaft extending through said fan eyeinto said air passageway, a motor for driving said fan and shaft, meansdefining a port in said air passageway adjacent said fan eye forreceiving a converter element, a converter element insertable throughsaid port into register with said fan eye, means defining a slot on saidconverter element passing transversely of said shaft, and a valve havingtwo cooperating sections pivoted intermediate its ends, each sectionhaving portions engageablc with said shaft to move said valve sectionsto uncover said slot and to move said valve sections to close said slotand seal said fan chamber from said nozzle.

3. A dusting tool converter for suction cleaners having a nozzle, a fanchamber having a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzleand fan eye and having a port adjacent said fan eye, a motor for drivinga suction creating fan in said fan chamber and driving a shaft extendingthrough said fan eye into said air passageway, and comprising a conduitadapted to be inserted through the port in the passageway into register6 valve to open position when the converter is removed from the suctioncleaner. i

4. A dusting tool converter; for suction cleaners having anozzle, a fanchamber havin'ga fan eye,

a suction airpassagewayjbetween said nozzle and'fani. eye and having aport adjacnt-sald "fan eye,'a motor for driving a. suction creating fanin said fan chamber anddrivi'ng ashaft extending through said fan eyeinto said air' pasageway, comprising a conduit adapted to be insertedthrough the port in' the passagewayinto register with the fan eye, saidconduit having a slot to accommodate the shaft, and-a valvecomprising'cooperating sections pivotally mounted on said conduit, eachof said sections having a first and a second portion engageablewith theshaft. engagement of said first portion opening said valve to permitpassage of said slot about the shaft, and engagement of said secondportionwith said shaft moving said valve sections to close said slot toseal the nozzle from the fan chamber.

5. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner body having a nozzle, a fan chamberhaving a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzle and faneye, a fan in said fan chamber, a shaft extending through said fan eyeinto said air passageway, a motorfor driving said fan and shaft, meansdefining a. port in said air passageway ad- Jacent said fan eye forreceiving a converter element, a converter element insertable throughsaid port into register with said fan eye, means defining a slot in saidconverter element passing transversely of said shaft, a: valve movablymounted on said converter element for enclosing said shaft to seal saidnozzle from said fan chamber, means on said valve engageable with saidshaft to open said valve for passage of said converter transversely ofsaid shaft, and means operatively connected to said valve for thereafter'closing said valve about said shaft to seal said nozzle from said fanchamber.

6. A dusting tool converter for suction cleaners having a nozzle, a fanchamber having a fan eye, a suction air passageway between said nozzleand fan eye and having a port adjacent said fan eye, a motor for drivinga suction creating fan in said fan chamber and driving a shaft extendingthrough said fan eye into said air passageway, comprising a conduitadapted to be inserted through the port into the air passageway inregister with the fan eye, said conduit having a slot to accommodate theshaft,'a valve movably mounted on said conduit for enclosing the shaftand to close said slot to seal the nozzle from the fan chamber, means onsaid valve engageable with the shaft to open said valve for passage ofsaid conduit transversely of the shaft,

with the fan eye, said conduit having a slot to accommodate the shaft,and a unitary valve pivotally mounted on said conduit and having, afirst and asecond shaft engaging portion, said first portion engagingsaid shaft to close said valve upon insertion of the converter, and saidsecond portion engaging said shaft to move said and means operatlvelyconnected with said valve for thereafter closing said valve about theshaft to seal the nozzle from the fan chamber,

7. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a 'fan chamber, afan in said fanchamber, an air passage-v into the air passageway, said conduit havingan 10 opening for receiving the drive means. a valve movably mounted onsaid converter for closing said opening around said drive means to sealthe nozzle from the tan chambenand'means sition for engagement with saidshaft during i'orming part of said valve extending into a po- 52,418,788

insertion of the converter into the air passaseway for moving said valveto its closed position.

mm; c. GERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile oithis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,080,480 Hoover May 18, 19372,340,347 Severance Feb. 1. 1944 White Mar. 4, 1947

